312-8 Clutch pedal not returning quick

[truckin88 104]

My old man just hauled a clean late nineties 312-8 and the clutch pedal does not return quick like on all the others I have had before, I haven;t removed anything yet. It does engage and disengage. Just wondering what I should look for. From experience I would imagine build up under the belt guard or a new drive belt needed.

[dgoyette 12]

Does it have the gas cylinder for the spring/return? Maybe it is worn. If it is I would just replace it with a spring vs another gas lift.

[truckin88 104]

Does it have the gas cylinder for the spring/return? Maybe it is worn. If it is I would just replace it with a spring vs another gas lift.

Never seen one with a gas cylinder, I have seen them with a spring....haven't taken it apart yet, he hauled it in yesterday.

[Duff 206]

My guesses from working on three of these critters, although mine are of late '80's vintage.....

-The shaft that passes through the frame from the clutch pedal side to the pulley side needs lubricating where it passes through the frame rails;

-The clutch pedal where it rotates on the shaft that sticks out from the frame and supports the footrest may need cleaning/lubricating;

-The spring that actually gives the clutch its tension against the belt has gotten weak;

-Somehow the bracket that keeps the belt on the clutch tensioner pulley has gotten bent and is rubbing on something.

-As far as the gas spring thingy goes, at least on my tractors, that was a "safety" feature they put on to dampen the speed of clutch release to prevent (?) wheelies. Aside from being a major PITA to keep adjusted, replacements are wicked expensive, so mine have all gone to metal recycling. If yours has one, the plunger rod may be sticking (rusted/dirty) OR it may be working as designed! I leave it to you to decide if you even want it on there.

Kep us posted!

Duff :ychain:

[truckin88 104]

Duff, thanks, it is a newer model, so it does have grease fittings on the pedals, it is not at my house, this one is my dad's he regretted selling the 312 I sold him. This came on CL super clean, he ran over and bought it, he loves WH's now says you can't stop them (which we all know is true). He was excited like a kid on Christmas with this haul.

Duff hope the 310 is treating you well, the 4x10 is in my office, love it, driving the wife a little crazy.

I will check it out for him, I was thinking the pedals needed grease. we are going to go through everything, do a full filters, oil, lube and change what needs to be changed.

[btrrg1969 11]

Both my 312 and 314 had the gas spring , I took them off because both did as you described , slow to return , I would go with the return spring made from Toro , I did that and my clutch works and feels grate :ychain:

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,351]

Will,

That machine has the piston style return (like on a lift gate etc for your car. IMO they are a bad design. I fixed mine by adding a heavy return spring and left the gas shock in place.

[Duff 206]

Duff hope the 310 is treating you well, the 4x10 is in my office, love it, driving the wife a little crazy.

Hi, Will!

The 310 is a great tractor, thanks!

For those who may not know, Will and I made a swap - I got a really nice 310-8, and Will got a really nice Fender bass guitar and amp. (Sorry if it's upsetting your better half, Will - mine made me move my musical gear out to my workshop which is insulated and detached from our house by about 50 feet. ) And for those yet to meet him, Will's a great guy!

Back to the topic. The more I think about it, the more I bet the slowness issue is indeed the clutch damper working more or less as it's supposed to. I'll be interested to see if your Dad keeps it or takes it off the tractor. I like a more direct "feel" on my clutches, but each has his (or her) own preferences!

Duff :ychain:

[Warning:Unsupervised 82]

 Well' this annoying clutch damper on my 314-8 is starting to stick creating belt slip. Mine works like a plunger? I'm wondering where to put the spring on the clutch now? I glanced at my B100-8 (C- Frame version) and the clutch/belt system is different. I say glanced because we're having big rains at the moment and my garage is packed full due to us just moving here. Stuff is everywhere but yet' things are know where to be found?  If you ever tried downsizing after living in a large home with a big barn & a garage for 20yrs you know exactly just what I mean..lol  Sorry' but dang I miss my garage space.

 

   Back to my WH clutch, must be a return spring on my B-100 clutch/rod, but' is it the same part number & location for the new spring on my 414-8 as the B100, or are you guys simply removing the damper and inserting any spring in its place that works? Where's the new spring go,anyone have part numbers for a particular spring used?

BTW-- Big thanks to you all again for helping everyone & anyone on here, it's greatly appreciated I just want you all to know. Proud to be a member here.

Edited June 17, 2019 by 123GO